Riot In Ephesus; Acts 19:23 – 41 Part 3

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

The first and most genuine notion we have of God is, that he had his being of himself, and depends upon none; but that all things have their being from him, and their dependence on him: and then it must follow that those are not gods which are the creatures of men's fancy and the work of men's hands. Yet this must be looked upon as a heretical and atheistical notion. Paul was looked upon as a criminal for maintaining it. They could not advocate anything against this doctrine itself, but the consequence of it hurt their trade. It was taught not only here at Ephesus, the chief city, but almost throughout all of Asia. It was taught among the country people, who were their best customers, and whom they thought they were surest of. Paul persuaded and turned away many people from the worship of Diana. There was now a reduced demand for the silver shrines and reduced rates offered for them. He reminds them of the danger which their trade was in of going to decay. Whatever touches this touches them in a sensible tender part: "If this doctrine gains credit, we are all finished, and may even go out of business; our craft will become useless and called a superstition, and a cheat upon the world. Everybody will run it down. We shall become not only beggars, but malefactors." They had numbers on their side; All of Asia and the world worshipped it; and therefore it must be the right way of worship. Let Paul say what he will to the contrary. Thus, because all the world wonders after the beast, therefore the dragon, the devil, the god of this world, gives him his power, and his seat, and great authority, (Revelation 13:2-3).

The charge was managed by a craftsman of a trade of which the product might be lost. It was framed to incense the common people, and it had the desired effect; for on this occasion they showed a great displeasure toward the gospel and the preachers of it. They were full of wrath, full of fury and indignation, so the word signifies. The craftsmen went stark mad when they were told that their trade and their idol were both in danger. They displayed a great jealousy for the honor of their goddess: They cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians; and we are resolved to stand by her, and live and die in the defense of her. Are there any that expose her to contempt, or threaten her destruction? Let us alone to deal with them. Make Paul prove that those are not gods which we made with our own hands. We will stand up for our gods and goddesses. Great is Diana of the Ephesians. We must and will stand up for the religion of our country, which we have received by tradition from our fathers." Thus all the people walked in the name of his own god, and all thought well of their own. We should do as well as the servants of the true God, who can say, This God is our God forever and ever. The whole city was full of confusion. This was the common and natural effect of intemperate zeal for a false religion; it throws all into confusion, dethrones reason, and enthrones passion; and men run together, not only not knowing one another's minds, but not knowing their own.